What Dezentrum does

Dezentrum is a Zurich-based, independent think & do tank organized as Verein Dezentrum, a Swiss non-profit association whose day-to-day operations are run through Dezentrum GmbH with a team of around 10 interdisciplinary staff. Its core activity is helping public-sector bodies, private companies, universities, and civil-society organizations make sense of digital transformation through structured scenario-planning, speculative-design workshops, and future experiments — methodologies that translate abstract futures into tangible artefacts such as speculative objects, prototypes, exhibitions, and games. Notable projects include the no1s1 self-managing house (blockchain-based), Satelleth (an autonomous satellite entity), three digital-democracy scenarios for 2050 developed for TA-Swiss, an Imagination Design Sprint for Smart City Zurich on the town hall of the future, and the Radical Choices online game against radicalisation.

The organization's service portfolio is anchored in four core offerings: Scenario Planning (backcasting from desirable futures to present-day actions), Speculative Objects and Workshops (tangible future artefacts as discussion catalysts), Future Experiments (analog and digital prototypes testing scenarios in the present), and Input Presentations (expert talks and training on AI, futures thinking, digital participation, speculative design, and automated injustice). Supporting offerings include the Digitalsalat podcast co-produced with Stiftung Mercator Schweiz and a new "AI in the Organisation" advisory offering. All work is delivered as bespoke, project-based professional services.

Dezentrum is self-financed through its own projects, with no external venture capital or private equity disclosed. It works primarily with Swiss institutional clients — ETH Zurich, ZHdK, FHGR, HTW Chur, FH St.Gallen, Stadt Zürich, Parliamentary Services Canton of Zurich, TA-Swiss, GZA, SECO, SBB, and Wuerth among them — supported by foundation funding (notably Stiftung Mercator Schweiz) and distributed through direct engagement, events, podcasts, blog content, and earned media across Swiss outlets.

Name

Dezentrum

Legal name

Verein Dezentrum

Website

https://dezentrum.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dezentrum is a Zurich-based non-profit think & do tank that helps governments, universities, and companies navigate digital transformation through scenario planning, speculative design, and future experiments. Its ~10-person interdisciplinary team delivers project-based research, workshops, and tangible future artefacts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Foresight Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting (BPAHACAH)

Keywords

• Scenario planning services
• Speculative design consulting
• Futures research advisory
• Digital transformation consulting
• Future experiments facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Project-based consulting and research: Dezentrum operates as a non-profit association that is self-financed through its own projects. They develop and execute research projects, scenario workshops, and future experiments for clients in the public and private sectors. The organization generates revenue through project fees, workshop facilitation, and research contracts.
2. Input presentations and workshops: Offering presentations and workshop services on topics including AI, futures thinking, future-proof organisations, digital participation, digital skills, speculative design, and automated injustice. These are offered for events and internal training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Dezentrum is a Zurich-based think & do tank that delivers scenario planning, speculative design workshops, and future experiment projects to help organizations understand and navigate the societal impacts of digital transformation. Services are commissioned by public sector bodies, private companies, universities, and civil society organizations across Switzerland and internationally. The association is self-financed through project-based consulting fees, research contracts, and workshop facilitation.

Product overview

Dezentrum is a think & do tank offering a portfolio of services focused on digital transformation and society. The core offerings include Scenario Planning (structured methodology for developing future scenarios through backcasting), Speculative Objects/Workshops (design methodology creating tangible future scenarios), Future Experiments (empirical testing of future scenarios through prototyping), and Input Presentations (expert talks and training sessions). Supporting offerings include the Digitalsalat Podcast (collaboration with Stiftung Mercator Schweiz on digital topics) and project initiatives like 'AI in the Organisation' (guidelines for responsible AI use), 'ting' (basic income experiment), 'no1s1' (self-managing house using blockchain), and 'Satelleth' (autonomous blockchain entity). The organization operates as an independent, non-profit association with approximately 10 interdisciplinary team members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scenario Planning Structured methodology that develops future scenarios through backcasting from desirable futures to present actions, helping organizations understand digital transformation challenges and develop strategic options.
• Speculative Objects/Workshops Design methodology using speculative objects and workshops to translate future scenarios into tangible forms, serving as catalysts for reflection and discussion about social and technological developments.
• Future Experiments Empirical testing of future scenarios in the present, creating spaces for joint design with different perspectives through prototyping objects, projects, and exhibitions (both analog and digital).
• Input Presentations Expert presentations and training sessions covering topics such as AI, futures thinking, future-proof organizations, digital participation, digital skills, speculative design, and automated injustice, offered for events and internal training.
• AI in the Organisation Participatory process developing practical guidelines for the responsible use of AI in organizations, helping them establish common rules and clear guidance for AI implementation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Developed three digital democracy scenarios for 2050 for TA-Swiss, presented through speculative artefacts and short stories
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Smart City ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on speculative design projects including the Imagination Design Sprint to imagine the town hall of the future. Produced tangible artefacts from speculative futures for municipal planning.
• FutureSenseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Imagination Design Sprint with Smart City Zurich for developing speculative artefacts.
• Risk Dialogue FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Gaming against Extremism project to develop an online game strengthening youth digital skills against online and offline radicalisation.
• 5am GamescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing the 'Radical Choices' online game for youth digital skills and extremism prevention.
• ETH ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration including the no1s1 self-managing house project, various research initiatives, and academic partnerships.
• Stiftung Mercator SchweizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey funding and collaborative partner for multiple projects including Digitalsalat podcast and Experiments with Reduced Working Hours (EvA) project.
• Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at University of BerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for EvA (Experiments with Reduced Working Hours) project, developing scenarios for innovative working time models.
• TA-SwisscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned for study on digital futures of democracy, developing three future scenarios for 2050 with speculative artefacts.
• anundpfirsichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImprovisational theatre ensemble collaboration for 'No Future? Playing with the Future' project, exploring futures through applied improvisation.
• Expedition ZukunftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on climate-neutral transport futures project, developing five postcards illustrating possible future scenarios.
• House of Electronic Arts Basel (HEK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibition venue for no1s1 self-managing house project as part of 'Exploring the Decentralized Web' exhibition.
• Algorithm Watch CHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Apéro Digital events including the speculative newspaper project on algorithmic resistance.
• Digital Society InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Apéro Digital events and digital democracy initiatives.
• Podcast Club SchweizminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partnership for Digitalsalat podcast, recorded in the Podcast-Tower facility.
• Parliamentary Services Canton of ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScenario workshop collaboration to explore future of parliamentary services work in 2060, developing mission statement.
• CooperativeSuisseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScenario workshop on digital space ownership and public infrastructure futures.
• Greater Zurich Area (GZA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvaluation of development potential using scenario technique for location marketing and business development.
• SECOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital transformation discussion for unemployment insurance compensation fund modernization.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• swissfuture: Swiss association for futures research and design. Dezentrum team member Ramona Sprenger sits on its board, and the organizations share direct topical overlap in futures literacy and scenario methods.
• Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (SNV): German think tank producing policy briefs on digitalization, AI, and platform governance. Closest geographic peer in scope, format, and nonprofit policy-foresight positioning.
• Risk Dialogue Foundation: Swiss foundation working on technology-related societal risks. Partnered with Dezentrum on the Radical Choices / Gaming Against Extremism project and shares a public-interest, foresight-driven methodology.
• TA-Swiss (Foundation for Technology Assessment): Swiss foundation commissioning technology assessment studies. Direct client of Dezentrum for the digital democracy 2050 scenarios; comparable as a Swiss policy-research commissioning body addressing digital transformation.
• FutureSence: Swiss foresight and strategy consultancy. Partnered with Dezentrum on the Smart City Zurich Imagination Design Sprint; comparable as a direct competitor in scenario planning and speculative design services.

Broad incumbents

• Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI): Swiss independent think tank focused on retail, society, and digital transformation. Highly comparable as a domestic peer running foresight research, scenario work, and public-facing events on societal change.
• Institute for the Future (IFTF): Long-established US-based foresight organization producing scenario forecasts, research, and workshops. Closest international analog to Dezentrum's scenario planning and futures research practice.

Emerging players

• AlgorithmWatch: Non-profit research and advocacy organization examining algorithmic decision-making. Partner of Dezentrum on Apéro Digital events and shares the digital-society, public-interest orientation.
• The Millennium Project: Global participatory think tank producing State of the Future reports and scenario work. Comparable in futures research methodology and multi-stakeholder engagement, though with a global rather than Swiss focus.

Regional players

• Digital Society Initiative (University of Zurich): Academic initiative at the University of Zurich researching digital transformation. Listed as a Dezentrum collaborator on Apéro Digital events; comparable in mission around digital society research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/0DlMsbhS6XaC5atBY7bCiN
• Facebookfacebook.com/dezentrumCH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/28622134
• Instagraminstagram.com/dezentrum.ch
• Xx.com/DezentrumCH

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dezentrum